Dispensers for adhesive tape



April 24, 1962 M. MAccAFERRI DISPENSERS FOR ADHESIVE TAPE Filed Feb. 14,1961 INVENTOR.

.U1/Lb mlml My present invention is directed to the provision ofdispensers for rolls of adhesive tape, and more particularly to such adispenser molded in one piece of a suitable plastic material; and thenature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized andunderstood by those skilled in the arts to which the invention relatesinthe light of the following explanation and detailed description of theaccompanying drawings illustrating what I now consider to be a preferredembodiment or mechanical or structural expression of a dispenser foradhesive tape of my invention, from among various other embodiments,expressions, designs, constructions and combinations of which theinvention is Vcapable within the broad spirit and scope thereof, asdefined in and by the claims hereto appended.

Various designs and constructions of dispensing containers or holdersfor mounting and dispensing rolls of adhesive tape, such as theso-called pressure sensitive or Scotch tapes, of the desk or tablesupported and manually held and operated types are presently on themarket. Such dispensers are in some instances made o`f plastic materialsof several separately molded or formed parts that must be assembled toform a dispensing container with these parts detachably connected inassembled relation so that they may be readily separated for insertionof a roll of tape and for removal of the roll core when the tape of aroll has been completely dispensedV so that a new roll may then beinserted. These plastic, dispensing containers formed of separatelymolded and detacha-bly assembled parts are of relatively'high cost dueto the necessity for separate moldings and for the assembly thereof, andare, therefore, not economically feasible as throw-away or disposable,one use items. And in addition, with frequent disassembly and use forrefilling, such types of dispensers are subject to frequent breakage,with resulting improper assembly and unsatisfactory handling andoperation in use.

lt is, therefore, a primary obiect of my invention to provide a plastic,dispensing container for holding rolls of adhesive tape so that tape canbe dispensed therefrom, which dispenser is molded in one piece asasingle, unitary molded structure which may be produced at a costsufliciently low that a user may, if he desires, after dispensing all ofthe roll of the tape then discard the empty dispensing container withoutrefilling it for reuse and thereafter use a new dispenser having a rollof adhesive tape mounted therein.

A further object is to so design and construct such a one-piece, unitarymolded plastic, roll dispenser that a roll of adhesive tape may bereadily inserted into position mounted therein for rotation to dispensetape therefrom by manually withdrawing the tape from the dispenser.

However, while it is a primary object of the invention to provide suchan adhesive tape dispenser of suchlow cost that it can be economicallyused and then discarded without refilling and reuse, it is also anobject of the invention to so design and construct such a dispenser thata user` may, if he so desires, remove the core of the used roll and thenreadily insert a new roll into operative tape dispensing positionthereinfor reuse of the dispenser.

Au furtherV object is toprovide such a dispenser in the form of aone-piece, unitary molded plastic container structure having atape rollreceiving space between spaced sidewallsth'e'reof withA such side wallshaving suliicient yieldit be spreadliy inseitio'riarid removal of arollto ate and from mounted position therein and sufficient resiliencyto restore to normal positions upon removal therefrom of the spreadingforces applied by a tape roll. v

Another object is to provide such a one-piece dispenser as a unitarymolded structure having molded integrally therewith bearing members forreceiving and rotatably mounting thereon a roll of adhesive tapeinserted into the dispenser together with guiding means serving also towedge or cam the yieldable side walls into spread, rollreceivingposition with the inserted roll guided thereby to operatively mountedposition on said bearing means.

And a further object is to provide such a one-piece, unitary, moldedplastic dispenser for rollsof'adhesive tape that can be eiiicientlyquantity-produced at low cost and yet may be optionally used for eitherrefilling or for dis'- card as a throw-away item after the original rollof tape furnished therewith has been dispensed. s

With the foregoing and various other objects, features and results inview, which will be readily apparent and recognized from the followingdetailed description and explanation, my invention consists in certainnovel features in design and construction and inrcombination of parts,all as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specifiedhereinafter. l p

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figuresthereof: Y

FIG. l is a perspective view of a presently preferred design ofdispenser of my invention with a roll of adhesive tape shown mountedtherein in position for manual withdrawal of tape therefrom.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the dispenser of FIG. l taken as onthe line 2*#2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a View in top plan of the dispenser of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken as on the line 4 4 of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a view in front end elevation.

FIG. 6 is a detailed and fragmentary perspective view of the tapecutting end of the dispenser taken from the rear side thereof.

One form of dispenser of my present invention has been selected and isdisclosed herein as an example for purposes of describing the inventionand the various features and advantages thereof. The example dispenserhappens to be ofa` size adapted primarily for mounting a roll ofadhesive tape of 5/s" width with the roll having a diameter ofapproximately 23/8. It is to be understood, however, that a dispenserembodying the invention may be of any desired dimensions necessary tomount and have dispensed therefrom tapes of greater widths and in rollsof greater diameters, so that the size and dimensions of the selectedexample dispenser hereof are not to be considered in any sense as'limitations on the invention. With the example dispenser for a tape rollof the indicated dimensions, such a dispenser may, if desired, use rollsof tape of widths less than 5/s in rolls having smaller diameters than2%.

The example dispenser is identified generally in its entirety as a unitbythe reference character C and is comp rised of a single molding of asuitable thermoplastic material, which in this particular instancehappens to be a general purpose polystyrene; This unitary structure Cformed of the single plastic molding provides the spaced sidewalls 10and 11 that are verticallydisposed andV integrally `connected at theirspaced rear edges by the vertically disposed rear wall l2. This rearwall 12 at its upper end curves lforwardly and extends' a short distancebetween and across the spaced edges of theV side walls,v as the arcuate,corner forming wail sectionlh. The

lower horizontaland space dedges 14 an'd ,'15 of the side walls ltland11 provide theV support surfaces by which thedispenserCmay restandbesupported Aon lany suitable at horizontal surface' such as a desk ortable top in position readily accessible for manual holding and tapedispensing. At their forward, upper ends the spaced side walls and 11are joined and connected by the relatively-narrow arcuate corner formingcross wall 17. that extends =a short distance rearwardly between theupper edges and the short distance downwardly between the upper ends ofthe front edges of the side walls, as will be clear by reference to FIG.1 of the drawings. The lower edge of the cross wall 17 is formed on aradius to provide an upwardly curved or arched edge 17a.

The spaced, opposite side walls 10 and 11 at the lower forward portionsthereof are extended forwardly as the spaced vertically disposedsubstantially parallel wings or panels 20 and 21, which at their forwardportions extend upwardly as the spaced, vertically disposed supportmembers 22 and 23. The forward edges ofthe forwardly extending side wallpanels 2t) and 21 and the upwardly extending support members 22 and 23thereof are connected at their forward edges by the front wall 24 whichextends therebetween and closes the `front or forward side of thedispenser. This front wall 24 may increase in thickness upwardly alongits vertical height and terminates at its upper end in the transverselydisposed forwardly extending lip forming wall 25 which across itsforward horizontal edge provides a sharp cutting or shearing edge 26thereacross over which the tape from a roll mounted in the dispenser isdrawn and then pulled downwardly with a twisting motion to sever theforwardly extending length of the tape. The cutting edge 26 may besuitably notched or toothed, if desired, as shown in the drawings.

A suitable tape yguiding and supporting edge surface 27 is providedextended inwardly and downwardly centrally of the lip 25 in 4the path ofmovement of the tape drawn outwardly from a roll to and over the upperside surface of `the lip 25. The supporting edge 27 extends inwardlyfrom the lip 25 through the space between the forward side of the sidewalls 10 and 11 and the lower edge 17a of the cross wall 17. The guidingedge 27 is provided by the upper edge of a vertically disposed platemember 28 carried integrally with a wall structure identitied generallyby the reference character 29 and formed integral with and extendingacross and between the wings or panels 20 and 21. Thus, as will be clearby reference to FIG. 1, this tape guiding and supporting edge surface 27is positioned below the length of tape that extends from a roll withinthe dispenser to and across the lip 25 land the cutting edge 26 thereof.

In accordance with my invention as expressed in the example tapedispenser C hereof, means are provided formed integral with the spacedside walls 10 and 11 projecting inwardly therefrom by which a roll R oftape T may be inserted through the opening 30 in the bottom of thedispenser C, spread the walls 10 and 11 thereof apart, and then beforced upwardly and guided into position rotatably mounted therein forwithdrawal of the tape T therefrom. Such means in the example hereofconsists of the vertically disposed, spaced parallel ribs 31, 32 and 33projecting inwardly from the inner side of each of the side walls 10 and11. The ribs 31, 32 and 33 on each side wall are positioned opposite andin alignment transversely of the dispenser with the upper ends of theseribs integrally joined by an arcuate or circular form inwardly extendingbearing member, in this example in the form of a flange 34 that isgenerated as the arc of a circle about the center of rotation 35 (seeFIG. 1) of the roll R when the latter is n mounted position in thedispenser rotatably supported on the transversely aligned oppositearcuate bearing members or anges 34 of the side walls, as will be cleaiby reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings. At its opposite lower ends eachcircular bearing flange 34 is of increased width and forms a widened ribmember 36 as a segment of the circle about the axis 35 in which thebearing flange 34 lies. The ribs 31, 32 and 33 are beveled or tapereddownwardly and outwardly at the inner surfaces thereof from a locationin a projected horizontal line passing through the lower ends of thesegmental ribs 36 to provide thereon the upwardly and inwardly inclinedwedging or camming surfaces 38 shown on the ribs 31 in FIG 2. Each pairof aligned, opposite and spaced ribs 32 and 33 are provided with similartapered or inclined wedging or camming surfaces 33, as will be clear,for example, by reference to FIG. 4.

In this particular instance the system of ribs 31, 32, 33 and 36 andlthe arcuate or circular bearing flange 34 are located in positionsangularly spaced through about 18 degrees from the vertical in adirection away from the front of the dispenser and the location thereonof the cutting edge forming lip 25, as clearly shown by FIG. 1 of thedrawings. 'I'his angular positioning of the rib and support flangesystem on the inner side of each side wall of the dispenser is for thepurpose of applying the manual forces utilized in withdrawing tape Tfrom the roll R over the lip 25 in a direction to offset and overcomeany tendency of the dispenser C to tip or rock forwardly while tape isbeing withdrawn from the roll in the dispenser and then cut or shearedotf at the cutting edge 26.

Thus the dispenser C, following the invention, is molded or cast in onepiece of a suitable thermoplastic material with the bearing flanges 34and the ribs 31, 32 and 36 on the inner side of each side wall extendinginwardly in transverse alignment but substantially spaced apart, as willbe clear by reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and -4 of the drawings. Thedispenser C is readily filled or charged with the roll R of adhesivetape T by holding the upper portion of the dispenser in one hand andwith the other hand forcing the roll R between the side walls 10 and 11into engagement with the inclined wedging or camming surfaces of thesystem of ribs so that the side walls 10 and 11 are forced apartsufficiently to permit the roll to move over and across and between theribs on the opposite side walls until the core or inner side of the rollaround the axial bore therethrough slips over and onto the bearingsurfaces provided at the outer sides of the bearing flanges 34. When theroll reaches this position seated on the bearing flanges, the side walls10 and 11 `are released from the pressures applied thereto by the rolland these side walls then restore to their normal positions with theroll R held in rotatably mounted position on the flanges 34 with thelower or outer portion of the roll resting in the space formed betweenthe lower portions of the inclined surfaces 38 of the spaced ribs forrotation therethrough, as shown clearly by FIG. 2 of the drawings.

With the tape roll R in mounted position, as above, the end of the tapeT at the outer, forward side of the roll R is pulled from the roll anddrawn outwardly through the opening below edge 17a across wall 17 andover the guiding edge 27 and outwardly over and across the upper surfaceof the lip 25 and a distance beyond the lip for a length of tape that itis desired to shear oi by the cutting edge 26. Due to the elevatedposition of the lip 25 and the cutting edge 26 above the location of theaxis of rotation 35 of the roll R, and the angular positions of the ribsystems 31, 32, 33 and 36 and the bearing flanges 34, the manuallyapplied forces acting longitudinally of the tape do not tend to rock ortip the tape forwardly from normal position resting on a supportingsurface.

It will be noted that with the tape T drawn outwardly from roll R inposition extending over guide edge 27 and across lip 2S, spaces areformed at opposite sides of plates 28 between wall structure 29 and thetape for insertion of a finger in order to grasp and manipulate the tapelength if found necessary.

Thus, I have by the design, construction and arrangement of my presentinvention, provided a one-piece molded plastic tape dispenser which canbe injection molded into complete and finished-for-market form at lowcost without any assembly required other than the insertion of a roll oftape into operative position therein. The cost of producing thecompleted dispenser is sufficiently low that it may be used as athrow-away unit for discard after the roll of tape with which it isinitially filled has been used up, or, optionally it may be refilled andcontinued in use. And the dispenser may be readily initially filled witha roll of tape and, if desired, refilled by merely forcing a ro-ll oftape through the tape receiving opening into its operative mountedposition in the dispenser. And while in the specific example ofdispenser herein selected for purposes of example the roll receivingopening thereto is shown as in and through the bottom or underside ofthe dispenser, my invention contemplates and includes the provision ofsuch a roll receiving opening at other locations therein.

It will also be evident to those skilled in the art that various otherchanges, modifications, substitutions or eliminations might be resortedto without departing from the broad spirit and scope of my invention,and hence I do not desire or intend lto limit the invention in allrespects to the specific form or to the specific construction thereofo-f the selected and disclosed example hereof, except as may be requiredby clearly intended limitations thereto appearing in any of the claimshereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A dispenser for adhesive tapey rolls comprising a onepiece unitarycontainer of plastic material for mounting and enclosing therewithin aroll of adhesive tape of a type having an axial opening therein, saidcontainer including: spaced opposite side walls with a bottom openingtherebetween for insertion of a roll of tape therethrough to mountedposition enclosed within said container, a rear wall, and a front Wallhaving a tape dispensing opening therethrough; said opposite side wallsbeing yieldable and laterally outwardly spreadable by the applicationthereto of spreading forces and being restorable to unspread positionsby the removal of spreading forces therefrom; an inwardly projectingbearing ange on the inner side of each of said yieldable side wallsproviding a bearing surface on the side of said ange opposite saidbottom opening; said bearing flanges being positioned at intermediatelocations on said side walls, respectively, spaced inwardly from saidbottom opening and being spaced apart at the inner facing sides thereoffor passage of a roll of tape therebetween to mounted position with saidbearing flanges extended into the axial opening of the roll of tape;wedging surfaces on the inner sides of said laterally yieldable,opposite side walls extending between said bottom opening and saidbearing flanges, respectively, for spreading said yieldable side wallswith said bearing lianges thereon laterally outwardly by forced passageof a roll of tape therebetween in wedging engagement therewith from saidbottom opening to mounted position on said bearing flanges; and saidbearing flanges with said yieldable side walls being restored fromspread to unspread positions by the removal of spreading forcestherefrom by a roll of tape in mounted position rotatably supported onsaid bearing flanges.

2. A dispenser for adhesive tape rolls, comprising a container formounting and enclosing therewithin a roll of adhesive tape of a typehaving an axial opening therein, said container including: spacedopposite side walls with a bottom opening therebetween for insertion ofa roll of tape therethrough into mounted position enclosed within saidcontainer, a rear wall, and a front wall having a tape withdrawalopening therein; said opposite side walls being yieldable and laterallyoutwardly spreadable by the application of spreading forces thereto andbeing restorable to unspread positions by the removal of spreadingforces therefrom; an inwardly projecting bearing flange on the innerside of each of said side walls providing a bearing surface on the sidethereof opposite said bottom opening; said bearing flanges beingpositioned at intermediate locations on said side walls, respectively,spaced inwardly from said bottom opening and also being spaced apartfrom each other at the inner facing sides thereof; spaced wedging ribson the inner sides of said laterally yieldable side walls extendingbetween said bottom opening and said bearing flanges, respectively, forspreading said yieldable side walls with said bearing flanges thereonlaterally outwardly by forced passage of a roll of tape therebetween inwedging engagement therewith to mounted position on said bearingfranges; said wedging rib members on said opposite side walls at ftheend portions thereof adjacent said bottom opening being formed ofreduced thickness to provide a space therebetween for receiving a rollof tape therein for rotation therethrough when the roll of tape is inposition rotatably mounted on said bearing anges; and said bearinglianges with said yieldable side walls being restored from spread tounspread positions by the removal of spreading forces therefrom with aroll of tape in mounted position rotatably supported on said bearinganges.

3. A dispenser for adhesive tape rolls, comprising a container formounting and enclosing therewithin a roll of adhesive tape of a typehaving an axial opening therein, said container including: spacedopposite side Walls with a bottom opening ytherebetween for insertion ofa roll of tape therethrough into mounted position enclosed within saidcontainer, a rear wall, and a front wall having a tape withdrawalopening therein and a tape supporting lip member thereacross at theforward side of said withdrawal opening; said opposite side walls beingyieldable and laterally spreadable by the application of spreadingforces thereto and being restorable to unspread positions by the removalof spreading forces therefrom; an arcuate, inwardly projecting bearingange on the inner side of each of said side walls providing a bearingsurface on the side thereof opposite said bottom opening; said bearingflanges being aligned transversely of said container and being spacedapart at their inner facing sides for passage of a roll of tapetherebetween to mounted position thereon; each of said arcuate bearingflanges being located in a position angularly displaced rearwardlytoward said rear Wall about the axis of rotation of a roll of tape inmounted position on said arcuate Vbearing anges; said tape supportinglip member on said front wall being located in a plane spaced outwardlyfrom the axis of rotation of a roll of tape on said bearing flanges onthe side thereof opposite said bottom opening; spaced ribs on the innersides of said yieldable side walls extending from locations adjacentsaid bottom opening to said arcuate bearing flanges, respectively, forspreading said side walls laterally outwardly by forced passage of aroll of tape therebetween in wedging engagement therewith to mountedposition on said bearing iianges; and said ribs and said side wallsproviding a space within said container between said bottom opening andthe adjacent ends of said ribs for receiving a roll of tape therein forrotation therethrough when a roll of tape is in position rotatablymounted on said bearing flanges.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,470,342 De Luisi et al May 17, 1949 2,633,396 Kawecki Mar. 3l, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 571,801 Canada Mar. 3, 1959

